- McLibel -

Freedom of speech is not absolute.

Posted by: george ( none, USA ) on July 21, 1998 at 09:57:58:

In Reply to: Re: Why attack McDonalds posted by Fergus Murray on December 11, 1996 at 23:17:32:

: > The question is not Why, but WHY NOT?

: > Freedom of speach. That's why not.

: What the hell are you talking about?
: We shouldn't attack McDonalds' abuses of their workers,
: the environment and the animals they kill, because of freedom
: of speach (speech)? Is that what you're saying?

Freedom of speech is not absolute. You cannot yell "fire" in a crowded theater; you can't make obscene telephone calls; you cannot publish state secrets; you can't find pornography (to any great extent, anyway) in the public library; you can't incite a riot; you cannot publish slanderous statements about someone; you can't lie in advertising; you can't file a false 1040. And so on. Freedom of speech is no defense to a charge of fraud or misrepresentation. Most folks who blithely answer "freedom of speech" don't know what the hell they're talking about.

--
McSpotlight: "Can't"? Or "shouldn't/are not allowed to"?

I've never seen anyone stop someone yelling "fire" in a crowded theatre.


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